Buoyant automatic cleaners for spas and other water-containing vessels

Abstract

Autonomous, mobile cleaners for water-containing vessels such as swimming pools and spas are detailed. The cleaners are especially useful for cleaning spas, although they may function adequately in connection with certain other vessels as well. They may be designed and constructed in particular to avoid high centering so as not to become stuck when encountering obstacles within the spas or other vessels.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. An automatic cleaner for a vessel containing water defining an upper water surface, comprising: a. a body comprising an inlet and an outlet; b. a motor positioned at least partially within the body; c. a filter positioned at least partially within the body; and d. at least one motive element for moving the body along a submerged surface of the vessel; and in which the automatic cleaner (i) is positively buoyant at all times in the water, (ii) sinks in the water to the submerged surface at least in part because of downforce created by operating the motor, and (iii) floats to the upper water surface because of the automatic cleaner's positive buoyancy when the motor is inoperative and downforce is not being created by operating the motor. 
     
     
       2. The automatic cleaner according to  claim 1  further comprising a source of electrical power positioned at least partially within the body and configured to supply electrical power to the motor. 
     
     
       3. The automatic cleaner according to  claim 2  further comprising a propeller connected to the motor. 
     
     
       4. The automatic cleaner according to  claim 3  further comprising a sensor configured to determine whether the body is immersed in water. 
     
     
       5. The automatic cleaner according to  claim 4  in which the motor operates only when the sensor determines that the body is immersed in water. 
     
     
       6. The automatic cleaner according to  claim 5  in which the sensor comprises metallic posts spaced on the body. 
     
     
       7. The automatic cleaner according to  claim 6  further comprising:
 a. a thrust assembly (i) positioned at least partially within the body and (ii) comprising a thrust tube (A) communicating with the outlet and (B) having a suction opening therein for entraining, in fluid exiting the body through the outlet, at least some air ingested into the body through the inlet; and 
 b. a magnet drive (i) connected to the at least one motive element and (ii) comprising a wall and at least one magnet positioned on each side of the wall; and 
 in which the at least one motive element comprises at least one wheel and at least one scrubber forming a boundary of the inlet. 
 
     
     
       8. The automatic cleaner according to  claim 1  in which the at least one motive element comprises (a) at least one wheel and (b) at least one scrubber. 
     
     
       9. The automatic cleaner according to  claim 1  in which the at least one motive element comprises at least one scrubber forming a boundary of the inlet. 
     
     
       10. The automatic cleaner according to  claim 1  further comprising means for exhausting water from the body through the outlet in a first direction forming an acute angle with the submerged surface of the vessel when the body is moving along the submerged surface of the vessel. 
     
     
       11. The automatic cleaner according to  claim 1  further comprising a thrust assembly (a) positioned at least partially within the body and (b) comprising a thrust tube (i) communicating with the outlet and (ii) having a suction opening therein for entraining, in fluid exiting the body through the outlet, at least some air ingested into the body through the inlet. 
     
     
       12. The automatic cleaner according to  claim 1  further comprising a magnet drive (a) connected to the at least one motive element and (b) comprising a wall and at least one magnet positioned on each side of the wall. 
     
     
       13. The automatic cleaner according to  claim 1  in which the body comprises at least a first portion having an interior surface shaped as a dome. 
     
     
       14. The automatic cleaner according to  claim 13  in which the outlet is positioned in the first portion. 
     
     
       15. The automatic cleaner according to  claim 13  further comprising a thrust tube including a wall and defining a first end portion adjacent the outlet, with the first end portion having a suction hole for evacuating air from the first portion. 
     
     
       16. The automatic cleaner according to  claim 1  in which the body comprises a lid shaped as a dome. 
     
     
       17. The automatic cleaner according to  claim 16  in which the outlet is positioned in the lid. 
     
     
       18. The automatic cleaner according to  claim 16  in which the dome shape of the lid defines a dome-shaped chamber within the body, further comprising a thrust tube including a wall and defining a first end portion adjacent the outlet, with the first end portion having a suction hole for evacuating air from the dome-shaped chamber within the body. 
     
     
       19. The automatic cleaner according to  claim 1  in which (a) the body comprises a front portion and (b) the automatic cleaner, upon floating to the upper water surface, is configured to point the front portion downward and position the outlet at the highest point of the automatic cleaner.